LITTLETON 一 Chief Matthew Pinard is pleased to announce that the Littleton Police Department has purchased its first hybrid cruisers.
Two new 2022 Ford Police Interceptor Utility hybrid cruisers were put into service on July 11. The two new cruisers are the first hybrids the Littleton Police Department has purchased. Town Meeting approved the purchase as a capital request on May 2.
The hybrid vehicles are expected to save in fuel costs and help the department reduce its carbon footprint.
It is estimated that a Ford Police Interceptor Utility will save 1,276 gallons of fuel per year, which is equal to $3,509 potential savings per year, per vehicle. Additionally, there is a potential 25,560 pounds of carbon dioxide output reduced per year, per vehicle. The cars have an estimated combined fuel economy rating of 24 mpg, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The new hybrid cruisers also reduce engine idle time by allowing on-board electronic devices in a police cruiser to use the car’s hybrid battery, allowing the gasoline engine to shut off for extended periods of time.
The Police Interceptor Utility is the first pursuit-rated hybrid SUV and features all of the traditional engineering and structural features that offer stability, power, and safety. According to Ford, it is also the only vehicle worldwide that is engineered to meet the 75 mph rear-impact crash test.
